NCICU is comprised of 36 nonprofit, private liberal arts, research and comprehensive colleges and universities across North Carolina.

From traditional four-year coeducational institutions to women’s colleges to historically black colleges and universities, NCICU colleges and universities offer the full spectrum of the college experience. The oldest private two-year college in the nation also is part of the NCICU family.

North Carolina independent colleges and universities serve the needs of:
- 68,000 undergraduate students
- 21,000 graduate and professional students
- 53,000 students total from North Carolina

More than 90% of the students on some campuses receive financial aid.

NCICU’s colleges and universities award 30% of the bachelor’s degrees in the state, as well as 51% of the medical degrees, 65% of the law degrees, 37.5% of the physical therapy degrees, and 53% of the pharmacy degrees.

Independent colleges and universities in North Carolina
provided more than $580 million in institutional aid in 2012-2013, which equates to 43% of the total financial assistance received by students at North Carolina’s independent colleges and universities.

North Carolina students at independent colleges and universities receive more than $83 million in need-based financial aid from the state.

The independent colleges sector is one of the largest private employers in the state.

Almost 1,300 individuals lead North Carolina’s independent colleges and universities through service on individual Boards of Trustees.

Our student bodies are as diverse as our campuses. In 2013, approximately 60 percent of students were women, 40% were students of color and 44.7% of the undergraduate students attending our independent colleges and universities came from out of state.

More than 1/3 of all students at NCICU member institutions receive federal Pell Grants.

Each year, approximately 2,000 students transfer from community colleges in North Carolina to an independent college or university.